Cohesion and Development
Agency (AD&C)
AD&C is a public entity with the mission of coordinating both the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Regional Development Policy for Portugal. AD&C is the Government representative on the ESF Committee and the Certification Authority for cohesion policy funds, as well as the paying authority, including for European Territorial Cooperation Programmes of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism Community Initiatives. Furthermore, it ensures audit functions and control at operations level, in conjunction with the Audit Authority. Concerning the ESI funds, AD&C ensures the general coordination, including the monitoring of the Portuguese Partnership Agreement, the Operational Programmes and guarantees the technical support to the Ministerial offices. Likewise, ensures the technical dialogue with the European Commission, coordinating and developing the assessment system of the Partnership Agreement. The Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, signed in 2014 between the Portuguese Government and the European Commission, defined the general guidelines for the five European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) – ERDF, Cohesion Fund, ESF, EAFRD and EMFF – and enshrined the economic, social and territorial development policy to be promoted in Portugal between 2014 and 2020.